Shaykh Muhammad, alias Maulavi Khandahari, from whom many stories were narrated, says:

Fifty years ago, on 14th Muharram at the Eidgah of holy Mash­had, the caretaker of Holy tomb, Shaykh Muhammad Baqir Waiz narrated as follows:

Once during Muharram, I was invited by the Iranian business community in France to deliver Muharram lectures and I went there for the same.

On the first night, a French jeweler came with his wife and son to the Iranian Center, where I was staying and requested the organizers that since he wanted to fulfill a vow, could they please bring their speaker to this place for ten nights to recite the Majalis.

When the attendants asked me about it, I agreed. Since the Majlis at Iranian Center was over, they took me to his place. I recited a Majlis, which was comprehended by my countrymen, but the host and his wife sat in grief as they could not understand Persian and did not even ask for a translation. This continued till the ninth.

On Ashura eve, due to recommended rituals, supplications and Ziyarat Nahiya, I could not go to his place. He came and complained about it the following morning. I mentioned the excuse that on Ashura night we perform some special rituals. This satisfied him, but he requested that instead I should come on the eleventh, so that his vow of ten Majalis is complete.

So, I went to his place that night and after the Majlis, he brought a hundred gold coins for me. I said: I would accept only if you tell me the reason for your vow. He said: During last Muharram, in Mumbai (India) my bag of jewels containing all my stocks was stolen. I was on the verge of death because of the shock and nearly had heart attack. There was a wide road below the place I was staying, where Muslims were taking out effigy of Zuljanah, beatings their chests and flagellating themselves with chains.

I also stepped down and joined those mourners and prayed to the one who was being mourned that if through his miracle, I got my stolen bag back, I vowed that next year, I would spend a hundred gold coins for Majlis programs wherever I might be. I had walked only a few steps when a person came and breathing heavily, pale in face, handed the briefcase to me and ran away. I returned to my lodging, opened the case and after counting the gems concluded that the thief had not taken even a piece from it.

May I and my parents be sacrificed for your, O Aba Abdullah!

Persian couplet:
Why would you deprive the friends, when you have graced even your enemies?

As mentioned before, problems of many non-Muslim persons were solved through mediation of Imam Husayn ('a) and their wishes were fulfilled. Such persons are present in the idolater community of India, who keep aside a part of their annual income to be handed over to the Shia for spending on Azadari ceremonies of Muharram and Safar, and they consider this participation as a means of earning divine blessings.

If a non-believer can seek the mediation of the Imam and his need is fulfilled, why a person of faith, who seeks forgiveness, salvation, mercy, intercession and security from pains and calamities of Purgatory (Barzakh), Judgment Day and Hell and desires the blessings of Paradise, would not be successful?

One who remained attached to him was never deprived and one who sought his refuge, is secure.